By NastyNils·
Motorcycle comparison · Naked Bike
Yamaha MT-09 (RN69) vs Triumph Trident 800 (MY2026)
Yamaha MT-09 vs Triumph Trident 800: no fairing, no excuses. Here's how to pick.
Crack the throttle on the Yamaha MT-09 and it's already howling through the intake, its midrange shoving you forward. The Triumph Trident 800 builds evenly, then rushes up top.
So which one do you buy?
The MT-09 has the edge if…
Sporty riding on twisty roads
Small edge: MT-09
Through a string of corners, the MT-09 feels a little more eager. The difference is better suspension. The gap is small, so ride both.
The Trident 800 has the edge if…
Daily commuting & city riding
A touch ahead: Trident 800
Day in, day out, the Trident 800 nudges ahead in traffic. What tips it: friendlier manners. It isn't a big enough gap to plan around.
What makes each one tick
MT-09
Down low the MT-09's triple pulls like a big twin, then it's spinning like a four near redline. At 417 lb (189 kg) the bike doesn't fight you on Angeles Crest Highway, and it drops into each bend the moment you lean. The bar flicks it through city gaps.
Nils rode the MT-09 in 2021 (NastyNils Testride).
Trident 800
There's room to stretch on the Trident 800, whose upright perch stays comfortable deep into a long day. Over a mid-corner bump the plush suspension soaks it up, and the chassis doesn't wander off its line. The brakes bite progressively. The triple purrs through the pegs, mile after mile.
The Voice of Experience
What actually separates them
- The Trident 800 has the lower seat: 31.9 in (810 mm) vs 32.5 in (825 mm).
- The MT-09 has the lower wet weight: 417 lb (189 kg) vs 437 lb (198 kg).
- The MT-09 makes more peak torque: 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) vs 62 lb-ft (84 Nm).
Which one for the way you ride
Comfortable long-distance riding
Look elsewhere
Both of these get tiring on a long day. A proper tourer will treat you better on big miles.
A confidence-building first motorcycle
Wrong job for both
Neither one is where you should learn. Get a season on something gentler first.
Call it even on running costs. Choose on fit, price and the one that makes you grin.
Who each one is built for
What's good, and what you'll live with
MT-09
What owners say
Strengths
- CP3 engine character
- Class-leading electronics package
- Light wet weight
- Reliability rating from owners
Trade-offs
- ABS abrupt under hard braking
- Cosmetic build niggles
- Mirror vibration above 6,000 rpm
- Mode 4 power cap effectively unusable
- Standard seat is firm and "slippery"
Trident 800
What owners say
Strengths
- Relaxed, all-day-comfort ergonomics
- Smooth, powerful, and characterful inline-triple engine
Known problems to check before you buy
MT-09
- Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) wear causing unstable idle/stalling (recall 25V-248) Recall 25V248000 Worn TPS due to excessive brush sliding from improper ECU programming leads to unstable idling, throttle hesitation, and stalling. Yamaha recall (NHTSA 25V-248) requires TPS replacement and ECU reflash for affected units.
- Engine stalling due to ECU programming (recall 22V-130) Recall 22V130000 Improper ECU programming can cause engine to stall unexpectedly, particularly when clutch lever not pulled fully or at small throttle openings from idle. Affects all 2021-2022 MT-09 models; Yamaha recall issued March 2022 for ECU reflash.
Trident 800
No confirmed faults on file yet. That's not the same as fault-free.
What they share
- Engine
- Inline-three
- Cooling
- Liquid-cooled
- Gearbox
- 6-speed
- Final drive
- Chain
- Front tire
- 120/70-17
- Rear tire
- 180/55-17
Where the spec sheets split
| MT-09 | Trident 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 32.5 in (825 mm) | 31.9 in (810 mm) |
| Wet weight | 417 lb (189 kg) | 437 lb (198 kg) |
| MT-09 | Trident 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Displacement | 890 cc | 798 cc |
| Power | 119 hp (88 kW) | 113 hp (85 kW) |
| Peak power at | 10,000 rpm | 10,750 rpm |
| Torque | 69 lb-ft (93 Nm) | 62 lb-ft (84 Nm) |
| Peak torque at | 7,000 rpm | 8,500 rpm |
| MT-09 | Trident 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel capacity | 3.7 US gal (14 L) | 3.8 US gal (14.3 L) |
What comes fitted, what costs extra
| MT-09 | Trident 800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Connectivity | Not offered | Standard |
Head to head, area by area
Both bikes on the same scale, one area at a time.
